Sheriff's Dept. intern facing drug charges

LOWELL -- An intern in the Middlesex Sheriff's Office is facing charges he tried to sell marijuana while parked outside a Tewksbury convenience store Thursday evening.

Emmanuel K. Flaris, 31, of 150 Westview Road, Lowell, pleaded not guilty in Lowell District Court on Friday to charges of distribution of a class D drug (marijuana), possession to distribute a class D drug (marijuana) and possession of a class B drug (suboxone). His next court date is May 20 for a pretrial conference.

McMahon confirmed that Flaris, who just passed his Bar exam, is a temporary employee in the sheriff's office. He said he was unsure of Flaris' position.

Police said they found a Middlesex Sheriff's identification card with Flaris' name and photo inside his car. There were also numerous pages of sensitive department documents that were seized and logged into evidence, according to court documents. The sheriff's office was contacted.

A spokesman for Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian said Flaris has been terminated. Flaris worked in the department's administrative offices and was not involved in law enforcement and did not have contact with inmates, the spokesman said.

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According to court documents, Tewksbury police detectives were in the area of a convenience store at 133 Andover St. doing surveillance for drug activity about 7 p.m. when they saw a white Lincoln sedan park next to a black Honda Accord.

Police said the driver of the Honda, Ryan Scotti, got out of his car, stood beside the Lincoln for about 10 seconds speaking to Flaris inside the Lincoln, then got into the Lincoln's passenger seat. Five minutes later Scotti exited the Lincoln.

Police allege that Scotti admitted he bought about 8 grams or $100 worth of marijuana from Flaris. Scotti allegedly told police he routinely buys marijuana from Flaris, according to court documents. It is unclear if Scotti was charged.

Police said a large plastic bag with a small amount of marijuana was on the passenger seat with cash next to the bag, court documents state.

Detectives asked Flaris for his license and registration, which he said he didn't have on him.

Flaris told police that he and Scotti were about to smoke a marijuana cigarette, court documents state.

In searching Flaris' Lincoln sedan, police found 36 grams of marijuana in a bag in the back seat, documents state.

In a sunglass holder was a pack of Marlboro cigarettes with two suboxone film strips that are used to discretely help with the symptoms of opiod withdrawal or can be abused.

Police also found two prescription pills bottle, both of which had the proper prescriptions.

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